1976 Napa & Alexander Valleys Chardonnay
Winemaker's Notes
The severe drought we experienced in 1976 dealt us a hard blow as far as quantities are concerned, with barely half the tonnage coming from the same vineyards harvested in 1975. Not only were the berries smaller than usual, but they were also partially dehydrated.
Vintage Weather
Hot. First drought year. Fruit had high sugars, low acids. Vineyards stressed. Early August – September crush.
Tasting Notes
This naturally concentrated juice fermented into a wine of substantial body, intense varietal character and a degree of richness and complexity that is rarely found. Further complexities were gained in the extraction of vanilla like flavors from six months of aging in French oak barrels. Unlike many other Chardonnays, the wood complexities are not over powering, but add a delicate backdrop to all important Chardonnay flavors. Although very enjoyable now, we expect this wine to blossom with a couple more years of bottle age.
Technical Data:
| Harvest Dates: | Sept. 1 to Sept. 7 |
| Bottling Date: | August, 1977 |
| Release Date: | August, 1987 |
| Appellation: | Napa & Alexander Valleys |
| Residual Sugar: | 23.5° brix |
| Alcohol: | 13.4% |
| Total Acidity: | 34 g/100 ml |
